The Handmade Soap Company Bergamot & Eucalyptus ‘Art Deco’ Cuticle Oil

The Handmade Soap Company hugely impressed the judges of this year’s CEW Responsible Beauty Award, sponsored by fragrance company Givaudan. (And we know that because one of the judges was Jo.)

This was one of the products she got to try as part of the touchy-feely judging – products have to deliver not just on ethics and sustainability, but also sensorial aspects and effectiveness.

It’s made its way onto her bedside table, for nightly anointing of cuticles. This might seem like a very minor beauty priority, but oil massage nurtures the nail bed and makes for strong, flexible nails – the Holy Grail of nails, actually – as well as helping to combat dryness.

The base is sweet almond, sunflower and apricot oils, infused with bergamot and eucalyptus (lovely smell, then).

As for those ethics? We really take our hats off to these guys, who are really going the extra mile sustainability-wise. Their electricity and heat come from a river-fed turbine, powered by the famous River Boyne. Any plastic used is not only 100% recyclable, but made from 100% post-consumer waste, while the brown cardboard packaging that’s their signature is FSC-approved and recycled.

So it almost goes without saying that everything is cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.

Lots to explore on their website – but you could do worse than start with this little pot of fingertip-friendly gorgeousness.

11.95 for 15 ml – buy here 

Prize Draws